Page 44 of Fated
“Only in passing,” Caleb said, extending a hand to the heir. “It’s good to meet you properly, Niko.”
The teen shook his hand with steady confidence, despite the slight edge of nerves in his scent. “You too, Alpha.”
“Bonfire still going?” Garrick asked, tone casual but knowing.
Niko perked up. “Yeah. The younger heirs were headed that way. Can I...?”
Garrick raised a brow. “Don’t light anything on fire. Or anyone.”
With a grin and a muttered “Yes, sir,” Niko vanished into the crowd.
Garrick watched him go, then took a slow sip of his whiskey. “His first summit. Was a little overwhelmed at first, but he’s warmed up. Holding his own.”
Caleb nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I can relate. It’s been...intense. But I’m glad we came.”
Garrick’s expression shifted, more reflective now. “Redridge has only been with the Collective a little over fifty years. My grandfather made the call. Ruffled feathers. Some said we were selling out. Didn’t want to answer to anyone outside our borders. Still don’t, really.”
Caleb studied him, then asked, “Do you think it’s worth it?”
The older alpha grunted. “Most days.” He swirled his drink. “Of course, there’s bureaucracy and posturing—especially at events like this. But the connections? The right ones? Those matter. You’ll find that’s what turns tides—not money, not power.Wolves. Trust.”
Caleb absorbed the words in silence, Fenrir’s consciousness rising closer to the surface, ears pricked forward in keen attention.
“And how do I make the right ones?” he asked quietly, the wolf’s curiosity blending with his own.
Garrick’s gaze sharpened. “By watching what matters to them. Not what they say in public. Where they send their sons. Who they ask to train their warriors. Who they toast when they think no one’s watching.” He set his glass down, facing Caleb fully. “Your territory’s valuable. And your budget...” He let out a low whistle. “Damn near triple what other packs your size operateon. That’ll attract attention, but that’s not what I find most impressive.”
His voice softened just enough to land the blow with grace. “The way you and Asher carry yourselves... It’s changed how people talk about your pack. You lead like wolves with nothing to prove. That kind of clarity? It’s hard to ignore.”
Caleb didn’t speak right away. Garrick’s words resonated deep in his chest, pride building with each heartbeat. When the older alpha lifted his glass in casual toast, the simple gesture tightened Caleb’s throat in unexpected recognition.
“You’ll be hearing from Redridge soon,” Garrick said. “We’d like to send a delegation.”
Caleb blinked. “Selene willing, we’ll be ready to receive them.”
Garrick gave a nod of acknowledgment before making his way back into the fray.
Caleb lingered for just a moment longer, then glanced back toward the gathering. He let his eyes move intentionally—Moonshadow’s Beta talking with Silver Hollow’s Alpha, Renford deep in discussion with Darius, and Lucien Night Walker circling the edge of the room like a hawk. He didn’t just see wolves anymore. He saw potential.
He squared his shoulders and stepped back into the crowd, newly attuned to subtle dynamics—shifts in posture, tracked gazes, unguarded smiles. When he reached the far side of the hall, Kai Bloodstone’s approach surprised him.
“Alpha Caleb.” His tone was polite but carried an undercurrent of hesitation. “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.” Caleb studied the Bloodstone heir with interest.
As they moved to a quieter corner, the rigid line of Kai’s shoulders began to soften, fingers fidgeting with his cuff links. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about Crescent Fang’s history,” he admitted, voice dropping to barely above a whisper.“Your connection to Selene, your traditions—it’s fascinating, but I also have...questions.”
The tone of Kai’s voice spoke of something deeper than mere curiosity. Caleb waited, letting silence draw out the real purpose behind this conversation.
“I heard that you and Asher have been together since you were fifteen,” Kai continued. “But you’re not fated.”
“That’s right.” Caleb watched understanding dawn in those emerald eyes.
“What will you do when you find your mate?” Raw vulnerability bled through Kai’s practiced restraint. “Will you...follow Selene’s will? Or do you think She would allow you to choose Asher instead?”
“Selene’s will is sacred,” Caleb said quietly. “But so is what we build, day by day, with the ones we love. Asher and I weren’t gifted a bond. We choose each other, every day. Our wolves accept each other, not just as partners in leading our pack, but as lovers. We’ve built a life—one rooted in trust and respect. In something that feels holy in its own right.”
He held Kai’s gaze. “I believe Selene sees that. That She values love just as much as destiny. I trust that whatever comes, Asher and I will face it together.”
